. It was an exhilarating
feeling to leave Estcourt, and lose sight of those hills and trenches,
the scene of so many weary vigils. The army did not, however, make a
big stride forward. The advance was only to Frere, some ten miles
nearer the Tugela.

As the column started at 8 a.m. there seemed every prospect of an easy
day. But on active service it is never safe to assume anything.
Although no opposition was met with, and the mounted troops hardly saw
a Boer, the progress was very slow, and sunset found the rear of the
column still three miles distant from Frere. The battalion had the
ill-luck to be in the rearguard, behind a seemingly interminable line
of transport. Then the inevitable drift intervened, and waggon after
waggon broke down. Finally, part of the transport decided to halt till
the morning, and the unfortunate rearguard was obliged to form a line
of outposts. As the battalion transport was some distance in front,
this meant no blankets, no food, nothing save a limited amount of
Natal water. The men were not allowed to consume the emergency
rations, and therefore had to suffer from cold and hunger. The night
passed somehow, however, and with the break of day we marched into
Frere, to find our waggons and obtain food.

Another monotonous fortnight was spent at Frere, the only excitement
being the arrival of fresh troops and the building of a temporary
railway bridge over the Blaukranz. The arrival of Sir Redvers Buller
and his staff gave hopes of an early advance, and everybody discussed
what our General ought to do, strategical plans becoming as numerous
as sandstorms.

Since leaving Ladysmith, the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers had not been
attached to a brigade, and now that the Army Corps had come there were
not wanting pessimists who foretold that as the battalion was nobody's
child it would be sent to guard the lines of communication. Early in
December, however, it was assigned to General Hart's 5th, or Irish,
Brigade, in place of the 1st Battalion. The latter was ordered to send
three companies, with a total strength of 287 men, to make up for the
wastage of six weeks' operations. These companies, which were
commanded by Major Tempest Hicks, arrived on December 7th, and were
allowed at first to maintain a separate organization, so that the 2nd
Battalion had eleven companies.

[Illustration: Capt. C. F. ROMER (standing) and Capt. E.
FETHERSTONHAUGH.]

The 5th Brigade was encamped close behind the ridge wh